Virtual/live hybrid behavior to mitigate range and behavior constraints

ABSTRACT

A system and method are disclosed for offering a trainee presentation blending live and virtual entities to create a training scenario unconstrained by live entity operational performance and geographical limitations. The system blends an instance of a virtual entity with an actual presentation of a live entity within a trainee presentation. Outside of trainee local sensor range, the system presents a virtual entity to the trainee while occluding local sensor presentation of the live entity. As the scenario progresses to a lessor range or higher criticality, the system offers the live entity emulation information concerning characteristics of the virtual entity so the live entity may anticipate and begin to emulate the virtual. At a crossover point, the system determines if the live entity has successfully emulated the virtual and if so, discontinues presentation of the virtual while removing the occlusion allowing presentation of the live entity.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to enhanced trainingcapabilities which enable a live training aid to simulate oneunconstrained by range and geographical limitations. More particularly,embodiments of the present invention relate to a system and method forintegration of a virtual training aid acting in cooperation andassociation with the live training aid to offer a realistic trainingscenario unlimited by the physical and behavior constraints of the livetraining aid.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Traditional training may be accomplished using a live training aidlimited by live geographical and performance based constraints. Forexample, a live training aid aircraft may be used to simulate a hostilethreat and perform tactics associated with those of a hostile threat. Atrainee may receive information concerning the scenario problem andassess the scenario and tactics thereof. The trainee then makesexecution decisions based on the received information. For example, at adistance out of on-board sensor range, a live training aid simulating ahostile threat aircraft may not be a factor to friendly assetsassociated with the trainee aircraft. At this range, the trainee mayonly receive information concerning the live training aid via offboardsensors (e.g. datalink).

These live training aids, however, are constrained by physicalboundaries making limited the training available to a trainee. Forexample, live training typically is performed with multiple platforms ona training range. A “range” as used herein may include a fixed, chartedgeographical section of airspace with 1) a horizontal boundary and 2) alower vertical boundary and 3) an upper vertical boundary. For example,range airspace may have a an east west limit of 50 Nautical Miles (NM)and a north south limit of 60 NM while encompassing a trapezoidal shapenormally associated with a radial/Distance Measuring Equipment (DME)from a Navigational Aid (navaid). This range airspace may exemplarilypossess a lower vertical boundary or “floor” of 7000 ft. MSL and anupper vertical boundary “ceiling” of 50,000 ft. MSL.

For example, two aircraft filling a “Blue Air” role practicing friendlytactics while two aircraft filling a “Red Air” role are practicinghostile tactics would oppose each other within such a range. The Redforces presenting a problem against which the Blue Air forces may learnto solve through training. The Red forces are enlisted to providescenario presentations as training aids for the Blue forces. Thesescenario presentations require separation between the forces foraccuracy and consistency. Occasionally, atmospheric conditions (e.g.,strong winds, cloud layers) preclude the Red forces from an accurate orvaluable training scenario presentation.

Many high performance aircraft and operational capabilities of weaponssystems may exceed the capabilities of a live training aid. For example,modern aircraft require large blocks of airspace both horizontally andvertically due to aircraft speed and altitude capabilities and ranges ofordinance and distances involved. Such large blocks of reserved spaceare difficult to arrange and finite in geography and suffer fromadditional limitations including stationary in location, impacted byweather, available at Air Traffic Control discretion, and shared withcivilian aircraft. Live training aids may be constrained by serviceceiling, maintenance issues and speed limitations limiting an accuratepresentation of a high performance threat.

Virtual training aids may solve some of these limitations and provide alimited level of training. Virtual training aids may solve the issue ofrange but lack the capability for close in visual or local sensor basedtraining. For example, the Blue forces may be presented a scenario inwhich the Red forces were beyond visual range (BVR) or beyond localsensor range. A BVR scenario may be virtually created and valuabletraining may occur during prosecution of the virtual training aids. Thetrainee may make valid operational decisions based on this BVR hostilethreat aircraft data received.

However, once the virtual training aid reaches a point where the traineesensors (radar, targeting pod, pilot's eyeballs) are realisticallydesigned to image the training aid, negative training may result if thetrainee's sensors do not successfully image the training aid. Forexample, at a specific range threshold, an aircraft radar is designed tosuccessfully image a live target aircraft and display the imaged data tothe trainee/pilot. Should the radar not image and display the target,the trainee may not receive the desired level of training. Similarly, atcloser range, a trainee may expect to visually acquire the training aidand make further decisions based on the visual presentation. A virtualtraining aid is incapable of producing this actual visual image

Therefore, a need remains for training methods and systems which offer avirtual training aid unlimited by physical, geographic and behaviorconstraints of a live training aid while maintaining a realisticsensor-based problem for the trainee to solve to complete the scenario.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, an embodiment of the present invention is directed to amethod for blending an instance of a virtual entity with an actualpresentation of a live entity within a trainee presentation, comprising:receiving a training scenario, generating the instance of the virtualentity in compliance with the training scenario, generating the traineepresentation, the trainee presentation including the instance of thevirtual entity, the trainee presentation further including an occlusionof the actual presentation of the live entity, communicating the traineepresentation to a trainee, presenting emulation information to anoperator of the live entity in compliance with the training scenario,correlating a characteristic of the live entity with a characteristic ofthe virtual entity, blending, within the trainee presentation, theinstance of the virtual entity with the actual presentation of the liveentity based on the correlating, removing the virtual entity from thetrainee presentation after the blending, removing the occlusion of theactual presentation of the live entity from the trainee presentationafter the blending.

An additional embodiment of the present invention includes receivingdata associated with presentation of the virtual entity and generating aplurality of virtual entities in compliance with the training scenario.

An additional embodiment of the present invention includes a traineepresentation configured for at least one of: a graphic display, apictorial display, and a communication of information perceptible by ahuman, and a trainee presentation configured for presentation on anavionics display onboard a trainee aircraft.

An additional embodiment of the present invention includes presentinginformation to the live entity to mimic a behavior of the virtual entityand correlating at least one of: a position, an altitude, an airspeed,and a heading of the virtual entity with the live entity.

An additional embodiment of the present invention includes receiving atleast one characteristic associated with the live entity and determiningif the live entity is within a correlating tolerance and removing theocclusion of the actual presentation of the live entity anddiscontinuing a presentation of the instance of the virtual entity. Oncethe live entity is within the correlating tolerance, the method enablesan onboard sensor based display of information.

An additional embodiment of the present invention includes anon-transitory computer readable medium having non-transitory computerreadable program code embodied therein for blending an instance of avirtual entity with an actual presentation of a live entity within atrainee presentation, the computer readable program code comprisinginstructions which, when executed by a computer device or processor,perform and direct the steps of: receiving a training scenario,generating the instance of the virtual entity in compliance with thetraining scenario, generating the trainee presentation, the traineepresentation including the instance of the virtual entity, the traineepresentation further including an occlusion of the actual presentationof the live entity, communicating the trainee presentation to a trainee,presenting emulation information to an operator of the live entity incompliance with the training scenario, correlating a characteristic ofthe live entity with a characteristic of the virtual entity, blending,within the trainee presentation, the instance of the virtual entity withthe actual presentation of the live entity based on the correlating,removing the virtual entity from the trainee presentation after theblending, removing the occlusion of the actual presentation of the liveentity from the trainee presentation after the blending.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description andthe following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory onlyand are not necessarily restrictive of the invention as claimed. Theaccompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a partof the specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention andtogether with the general description, serve to explain the principlesof the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The numerous advantages of the present invention may be betterunderstood by those skilled in the art by reference to the accompanyingfigures in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a system for blending an instance of avirtual entity with an actual presentation of a live entity within atrainee presentation illustrative of an embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a diagram of an exemplary orientation of a trainee aircraftand a training aid illustrative of an embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIGS. 3A and 3B are diagrams of an exemplary progression of a method forblending an instance of a virtual entity with an actual presentation ofa live entity within a trainee presentation illustrative of anembodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 4A and 4B are diagrams of an exemplary progression of a method forblending an instance of a virtual entity with an actual presentation ofa live entity within a trainee presentation illustrative of anembodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 5A and 5B are diagrams of an exemplary progression of a method forblending an instance of a virtual entity with an actual presentation ofa live entity within a trainee presentation illustrative of anembodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 6A and 6B are diagrams of an exemplary progression of a method forblending an instance of a virtual entity with an actual presentation ofa live entity within a trainee presentation illustrative of anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a timeline of an exemplary merge progression in a trainingscenario in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 8 is a flow diagram for a method for blending an instance of avirtual entity with an actual presentation of a live entity within atrainee presentation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the presently preferredembodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings.

The following description presents certain specific embodiments of thepresent invention. However, the present invention may be embodied in amultitude of different ways as defined and covered by the claims. Inthis description, reference is made to the drawings wherein like partsare designated with like numerals throughout.

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a system andrelated method for blending an instance of a virtual entity with anactual presentation of a live entity within a trainee presentation.Beyond local trainee sensor range, a trainee is oblivious as to whichpresentation is before him; the virtual entity or the live entity. Asthe virtual entity is presented to the trainee, the live entity isoccluded from the trainee presentation to simulate characteristics notcapable by the live entity and capable by the virtual entity. As thecriticality of the training scenario increases, the live entity isoffered emulation information to closely emulate characteristics of thevirtual entity. Once a desired characteristic of the live entity iswithin a correlation threshold of the corresponding characteristic ofthe virtual entity, the virtual entity is no longer presented to thetrainee and the live entity is no longer occluded from the traineepresentation. A seamless transition of the trainee presentation from thevirtual to the live entity guarantees an accurate training scenario. Thelive entity continues with the scenario for a realistic trainingpresentation.

It is contemplated herein; embodiments of the present invention may beapplicable to a plurality of training scenarios and training methods.One exemplary embodiment of the virtual/live hybrid behavior to mitigaterange and behavior constraints may include pilot training in a fighteraircraft. Additional embodiments may include training of an emergencyroom physician, training of a police officer and training of a groundbased operator of a mobile weapons system. The underlying conceptremains consistent regardless of the training type or trainee.

A timeline/flow of embodiments disclosed herein may exemplarily include:

-   -   1. a live entity is present, but occluded from a trainee        presentation/perception;    -   2. trainee interacts with a virtual entity to solve a problem;    -   3. trainee perceives the virtual entity decreasing in        range/problem threat increases/problem criticality increases;    -   4. live entity is given characteristic data to emulate virtual        entity;    -   5. if the live entity meets a correlation threshold with the        virtual entity, the system blends the entities eliminating the        presentation of the virtual entity and removing the occlusion of        the live entity from the trainee presentation;    -   6. trainee interacts with the live entity as a continuation of        the problem.

In this manner, a seamless scenario may be presented to the trainee viathe trainee presentation. The trainee may make operational decisionsbased at first on trainee interpretation of characteristics the virtualentity. Secondly, after correlation and blending of the virtual entitywith the live entity, the trainee may make decisions based on trainee'sinterpretation of live entity characteristics received via actualsensors (e.g., visual, tactile, radar, sensor pod, aural, etc.). Thescenario may further include the live entity retreating to beyond localsensor capability where the trainee presentation returns to the virtualentity.

Referring to FIG. 1, a block diagram of a system for blending aninstance of a virtual entity with an actual presentation of a liveentity within a trainee presentation illustrative of an embodiment ofthe present invention is shown. Trainee presentation 120 resides onboard trainee aircraft 110 to communicate with trainee via a visualcommunications medium. Within trainee presentation 120 an object 122 ispresented to the trainee. The origin of object 122 is dependent upon atraining scenario within training function 140.

Object 122 may be generated as a virtual entity originating fromtraining function 140 or object 122 may be an actual object originatingfrom one of the aircraft sensors such as data link 132, radar 134 andsensor pod 136 as interpreted by mission computer 130. The origin ofobject 122 is unknown to the trainee as one goal of a training scenariomay include a seamless transition from virtual to live and a possiblereturn to virtual entities effectively presenting a problem for traineeto solve.

Trainee may have access to a variety of sensors. Sensors may includethose extensions of human senses onboard the aircraft such as datalink132, air-to-air radar 134 and sensor pod 136. Mission computer 130 mayreceive data from the various sensors and process the data forappropriate presentation upon trainee presentation 120. Sensors mayfurther include those human sensors such as vision, tactile andauditory. System 100 may present object 122 in virtual form perceptibleto one of the human senses. For example, in FIG. 1 object 122 ispresented in visual form configured for a pilot of trainee aircraft 110.

System 100 may present object in virtual form in additional formperceptible by and configured for a human senses. System 100 may presentobject 122 with characteristics such as a tactile characteristic (e.g.,heat, texture, consistency). For example, in a medical trainingscenario, system 100 may present trainee with a virtual entityassociated with a virtual patient. A trainee in this scenario would berequired to assess the characteristics of virtual entity 122 and makedecisions based on the observed and sensed characteristics.

It is contemplated herein; system 100 may generate additional virtualentities 122 which possess characteristics sensible by a human trainee.For example, system 100 coupled with and controlling a simulator maygenerate olfactory and gustatory characteristics configured for humanperception and thus a potential additional training tool.

One preferable method for system 100 to accurately present traineepresentation 120 is to effectively manage which objects are available totrainee presentation 120. In some scenarios, system 100 may send avirtual entity to trainee presentation 120 and maintain an occlusion 142of actual objects. In some scenarios, system may send a virtual entityto trainee presentation 122 and allow a partial occlusion of actualobjects to most accurately comply with the training scenario. In otherinstances, system 100 may remove occlusion 142 from the system allowingall actual data to be presented on trainee presentation 120. In thiscase, system 100 may add virtual entities to trainee presentation 120 tofurther enhance and complicate the training scenario available totrainee.

Training scenario may reside within training function 140 available tosystem 100. For example, a trainee pilot may load data to trainingfunction 140 via a permission cartridge loader. A well-known DataTransfer Unit (DTU) may provide the data transfer function mobilityavailable from a ground based system to training function 140.

Referring to FIG. 2, a diagram of an exemplary orientation of a traineeaircraft and a training aid illustrative of an embodiment of the presentinvention is shown. Trainee aircraft 110 is within the horizontalconfines of range 210 along with live training aid 230. Each aircraft islimited to the horizontal confines of the range 210 since additionaltraffic 250 may be present nearby.

One goal of the present invention may include offering to trainee atrainee presentation 120 unavailable to a training scenario using onlylive training aids 230. For example, live training aid may be limited toa service ceiling of 25,000 ft. Mean Sea Level (MSL) due to operationalor weather issues within range 210. However, the training scenariodesigned for trainee on board trainee aircraft 110 calls for apresentation of an aircraft at 50,000 ft. MSL and Mach 1.8 at a range of100 NM from trainee aircraft 110. Live training aid 230 is unable tosupport this training scenario. System 100 may present trainee withvirtual entity 220 to fulfill the portion of the scenario operationallyunattainable by live training aid 230.

Referring to FIGS. 3A and 3B, diagrams of an exemplary progression of amethod for blending an instance of a virtual entity with an actualpresentation of a live entity within a trainee presentation illustrativeof an embodiment of the present invention are shown. FIG. 3A illustratesan overhead view of a range 210 in which aircraft may operate while FIG.3B illustrates trainee presentation 120 according to training scenario.System 100 may present to the trainee the trainee presentation 120comprising virtual entities 220 and live training aids 230. Incompliance with the training scenario, system 100 may display onlyvirtual entities 220, a combination of virtual entities 220 and livetraining aids 230 and only live training aids 230.

As shown in FIG. 3A, actual aircraft present in the range 210 aretrainee aircraft 110 and training aid 230. As shown in FIG. 3B, virtualentity 220 is virtual, and displayed on trainee presentation 120 as acontact 222. Live training aid 230 is 70 NM from trainee aircraft 110but occluded from trainee presentation 120 in compliance with trainingscenario. Occlusion 142 functions as a block to the raw data informationof training aid 230 from reaching trainee display 130. Should a sensoronboard trainee aircraft be able to image live training aid 230,occlusion 142 would block the image data from entering traineepresentation 120. At this point in the training scenario, trainee isaware of only a single contact, 222, at 110 NM from trainee aircraft andtrainee assesses the situation and reacts with appropriate blue forcetactics.

Referring to FIGS. 4A and 4B, diagrams of an exemplary progression of amethod for blending an instance of a virtual entity with an actualpresentation of a live entity within a trainee presentation illustrativeof an embodiment of the present invention are shown. In accordance withtraining scenario, virtual entity 220 may change a characteristicbehavior. For example, system 100 may command virtual entity 220 tomaneuver while remaining outside of range 210 boundaries. This maneuvermay change a characteristic of virtual entity 220 to more closely alignwith operational abilities of live training aid 230. For example,virtual entity 220 may turn right 90 degrees, decelerate and descendfrom 50,000 ft. MSL to 30,000 ft. MSL. As before, trainee presentation120 may display only virtual entity 220 via contact 222 and traineeremains oblivious to live training aid 230. However, as the scenarioprogresses, virtual entity 220 may be unable to fulfill the end staterole of the training scenario for the trainee.

Should virtual entity 220 be unable to fulfill a portion of the trainingscenario requirement, system 100 may present emulation information to anoperator of the live entity 230 in compliance with the trainingscenario. For example, one training scenario may begin with a 120 NMpresentation and result in a radar rendezvous followed by a visualmerge. In this situation, live training aid 230 must emulate virtualentity 220 and must maintain similar characteristics in order forpresentation of an accurate training scenario to trainee. System 100presents emulation information to an operator of live training aid 230so the operator may manipulate/maneuver live training aid 230 to emulatevirtual entity 220.

For example, system 100 may present a pilot of training aid 230rendezvous information to “join” with virtual entity. In reality, system100 is providing steering/rendezvous information for operator of livetraining aid 230 to fly to a point in space. This rendezvous informationmay be in well-known form of a steering queue, an altitude, heading andairspeed assignment. Preferably, system 100 may offer a visual “fly to”queue to the pilot of training aid 230 to effectively match performancecharacteristics of virtual entity 220.

Referring to FIGS. 5A and 5B, diagrams of an exemplary progression of amethod for blending an instance of a virtual entity with an actualpresentation of a live entity within a trainee presentation illustrativeof an embodiment of the present invention are shown. Once live trainingaid 230 has matched characteristics with virtual entity 220, system 100blends the instance of the virtual entity with an actual presentation ofthe live training aid 230 within the trainee presentation 120.

The result will preferably be a seamless transition from virtual entity220 to live training aid 230 within trainee presentation 120. System 100may first ensure the characteristics of live training aid 130 are withina correlation tolerance with those of the virtual entity 220. Forexample, one correlation tolerance may include an altitude of +/−500ft., airspeed of +/−20 knots, heading of +/−5 degrees, and a lateralposition within 1000 ft. Should operator of live training aid 230 failto match these characteristic within tolerances, system 100 may commanda termination or “knock-it-off” of the training scenario and a reset ofall assets. Alternatively, should operator of live training aid 230 failto match these characteristic within tolerances, system 100 may commandvirtual entity 220 to maneuver and create a second opportunity for livetraining aid to maneuver to come within the required correlationtolerances.

These correlation tolerances may be rigid or more flexible depending onthe required scenario and desired presentation. For example, should livetraining aid fly to an exact position matching the positioncharacteristic of virtual entity, but arrive 30 knots slow in airspeed,system 100 may allow the successful blending of entities and continuewith the training scenario.

As system 100 carries out the blending of the entities, the virtualentity 220 is eliminated from the trainee presentation 120 and the livetraining aid 230 is presented via a removal of occlusion 142.

System 100 may begin the blending of the entities (live tovirtual-virtual to live) as a result of one or more of a plurality oftriggers. One such trigger may include a desired range at which atrainee may be presented a problem. For example, a specific air-to-airsetup may include a training scenario for blue forces operating againsta small Radar Cross Section (RCS) target where trainee ownship sensorsmay be able to actually sense the target at an exemplary 25 NM. In thistraining scenario, range from trainee ownship to target may operate asthe trigger for system 100 to begin the blending.

In another exemplary embodiment, actions of virtual entity 220 may bethe trigger system 100 may use to begin the blend from virtual to liveand vice versa. For example, should virtual entity 220 begin apresentation as an unknown, and then take action allowing blue forces tolabel virtual entity 220 a hostile, the actions of virtual entity 220may trigger system 100 to begin the blend.

In yet another exemplary embodiment, anticipated visual range may be thetrigger for system 100 to begin the blending from virtual entity 220 tolive training aid 230. For example, a small fighter sized target may bevisible at 15 NM, one possible trigger for system 100 to begin theblending. Additional larger targets or high altitude targets emittingcontrails may be visible at a greater range allowing for system 100 totrigger a blend at such range.

In an additional exemplary embodiment, system 100 may receive a trainingscenario in which blue forces are operating against red forces. Eachblue force member (e.g., Blue 1, Blue 2, Blue 3, etc.) may have radarresponsibility for coverage of a specific section of airspace. Forexample, with a cursor coordination range of 20 NM, Blue 1 may beresponsible for an altitude coverage of 20,000 ft. and above while Blue2 may be responsible for 25,000 ft. and below. At a specific pre-briefedpoint in the scenario, each blue member may discontinue this radarcoverage and concentrate on a high threat problem. At this pre-briefedpoint, the high threat target may be one previously blended. In such ascenario, Blue 1 may have awareness on and be presented a virtual entity220 blended with a live training aid 230 while Blue 2 may be presentedonly the live training aid 230 at the pre-briefed point.

In this situation, for Blue 2, both datalink and radar are beingoccluded 142 offering Blue 2 the desired presentation. At a specificpoint in the desired scenario, occlusion 142 may be removed for Blue 2allowing Blue 2 local sensors to present information to Blue 2. Also,fused contacts may be defined as those contacts which more than onesensor (e.g., radar 134, data link 132, sensor pod 136) is sensing andare fused by mission computer 130 into a single contact displayed ontrainee presentation 120. A fused contact may be occluded 142 in itsentirety. For example, if the target from mission computer 130 is fusedfrom multiple sources, such as being simultaneously communicated ondatalink 132 and as a return from a live radar 134, occlusion 142 willocclude all the fused data associated with the target as a set.

Referring to FIGS. 6A and 6B, diagrams of an exemplary progression of amethod for blending an instance of a virtual entity with an actualpresentation of a live entity within a trainee presentation illustrativeof an embodiment of the present invention are shown. In FIGS. 6A and 6B,system 100 has removed both the virtual entity 220 and occlusion 142allowing local sensors onboard trainee aircraft 110 to image livetraining aid display live contact 232 on trainee display 130.

Referring to FIG. 7, a timeline of an exemplary merge progression in atraining scenario in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention is shown. At 120 NM from trainee aircraft 110, the trainingscenario may begin with a display 710 of virtual entity 220. A maneuverat 60 NM continues the scenario with virtual entity 220 maneuvering inaltitude and airspeed. At approximately 45 NM, system 100 blends 720 thepresentation of the virtual entity with the presentation of the livetraining aid 230. Within 45 NM, the trainee presentation 120 is limitedto the display 730 of live training aid 230. At 30 NM the aircraft arenose to nose with zero aspect and a visual merge may begin at 10 NM.

Referring to FIG. 8, a flow diagram for a method for blending aninstance of a virtual entity with an actual presentation of a liveentity within a trainee presentation is shown. Method 800 begins at step802 with receiving a training scenario, and, at step 804, generating theinstance of the virtual entity in compliance with the training scenario,and, at step 806, generating the trainee presentation, the traineepresentation including the instance of the virtual entity, the traineepresentation further including an occlusion of the actual presentationof the live entity, and, at step 808 communicating the traineepresentation to a trainee. Method 800 continues at step 810 withpresenting emulation information to an operator of the live entity incompliance with the training scenario, and, at step 812 correlating acharacteristic of the live entity with a characteristic of the virtualentity, and, at step 814 blending, within the trainee presentation, theinstance of the virtual entity with the actual presentation of the liveentity based on the correlating, and, at step 816 removing the virtualentity from the trainee presentation after the blending, and, at step818 removing the occlusion of the actual presentation of the live entityfrom the trainee presentation after the blending.

CONCLUSION

Specific blocks, sections, devices, functions, processes and modules mayhave been set forth. However, a skilled technologist will realize thatthere are many ways to partition the system, and that there are manyparts, components, processes, modules or functions that may besubstituted for those listed above.

While the above detailed description has shown, described and pointedout the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied tovarious embodiments, it will be understood that various omissions andsubstitutions and changes in the form and details of the systemillustrated may be made by those skilled in the art, without departingfrom the intent of the invention. The foregoing description detailscertain embodiments of the invention. It will be appreciated, however,that no matter how detailed the foregoing appears, the invention may beembodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit oressential characteristics. The described embodiment is to be consideredin all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive and the scopeof the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims ratherthan by the foregoing description. All changes which come within themeaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced withintheir scope.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for blending an instance of a virtualentity with an actual presentation of a live entity within an aircraftflight trainee presentation, comprising: receiving a training scenariohaving a defined fixed range that limits an ability of a traineeaircraft or its instrumentation; generating the instance of the virtualentity in compliance with the training scenario; generating the traineepresentation, the trainee presentation including the instance of thevirtual entity, the trainee presentation further including an occlusionof the actual presentation of the live entity, wherein including theinstance of the virtual entity and including the occlusion of the actualpresentation of the live entity are independent of the defined range;communicating the trainee presentation to a trainee via at least one of:a graphic display and a pictorial display; presenting emulationinformation to an operator of the live entity in compliance with thetraining scenario to mimic a behavior of the virtual entity; correlatinga characteristic of the live entity with a characteristic of the virtualentity; blending, within the trainee presentation, the instance of thevirtual entity with the actual presentation of the live entity based onthe correlating; removing the virtual entity from the traineepresentation; and removing the occlusion of the actual presentation ofthe live entity from the trainee presentation, wherein the removing thevirtual entity and the removing the occlusion occur as a result of theblending, the virtual entity being within the defined range, and as aresult of the live entity being within a correlating tolerance.
 2. Themethod for blending an instance of a virtual entity with an actualpresentation of a live entity within a trainee presentation of claim 1,wherein the defined range is a first defined range, wherein receiving atraining scenario having the defined range further includes receivingdata associated with presentation of the virtual entity on a displaythat presents training data according to a second defined range, thesecond defined range being greater than the first defined range, andwherein the first defined range is a charted geographical section ofairspace and the second defined range is at least one of: outside thecharted geographical section of airspace, beyond visual range (BVR) ofthe trainee aircraft, and beyond local sensor range of the traineeaircraft.
 3. The method for blending an instance of a virtual entitywith an actual presentation of a live entity within a traineepresentation of claim 1, wherein generating the instance of the virtualentity further comprises generating a plurality of virtual entities incompliance with the training scenario.
 4. The method for blending aninstance of a virtual entity with an actual presentation of a liveentity within a trainee presentation of claim 1, wherein the traineepresentation is configured for presentation on an avionics displayonboard the trainee aircraft.
 5. The method for blending an instance ofa virtual entity with an actual presentation of a live entity within atrainee presentation of claim 1, further comprising: returning thevirtual entity and the occlusion to the trainee presentation when atleast one of: the virtual entity is outside the defined range and thelive entity being is not within the correlating tolerance.
 6. The methodfor blending an instance of a virtual entity with an actual presentationof a live entity within a trainee presentation of claim 1, whereincorrelating a characteristic of the live entity with a characteristic ofthe virtual entity further comprises correlating at least one of: aposition, an altitude, an airspeed, and a heading of the virtual entitywith the live entity.
 7. The method for blending an instance of avirtual entity with an actual presentation of a live entity within atrainee presentation of claim 1, wherein correlating a characteristic ofthe live entity with a characteristic of the virtual entity furthercomprises receiving at least one characteristic associated with the liveentity, comparing the at least one characteristic associated with thelive entity to a similar characteristic of the virtual entity, anddetermining if the live entity is within the correlating tolerance. 8.The method for blending an instance of a virtual entity with an actualpresentation of a live entity within a trainee presentation of claim 1,wherein blending, within the trainee presentation, the instance of thevirtual entity with the actual presentation of the live entity furthercomprises removing the occlusion of the actual presentation of the liveentity and discontinuing a presentation of the instance of the virtualentity, thereby replacing the discontinued presentation of the instanceof the virtual entity with the actual presentation of the live entity.9. The method for blending an instance of a virtual entity with anactual presentation of a live entity within a trainee presentation ofclaim 1, wherein removing the occlusion of the actual presentation ofthe live entity from the trainee presentation further comprises enablingan onboard sensor based display of information when the virtual entityis within the defined range and the live entity is within thecorrelating tolerance.
 10. A non-transitory computer readable mediumhaving non-transitory computer readable program code embodied thereinfor blending an instance of a virtual entity with an actual presentationof a live entity within an aircraft trainee presentation, the computerreadable program code comprising instructions which, when executed by acomputer device or processor, perform and direct the steps of: receivinga training scenario having a defined fixed range; generating theinstance of the virtual entity in compliance with the training scenario;generating the trainee presentation, the trainee presentation includingthe instance of the virtual entity, the trainee presentation furtherincluding an occlusion of the actual presentation of the live entity,wherein including the instance of the virtual entity and including theocclusion of the actual presentation of the live entity are independentof the defined range; communicating the trainee presentation to atrainee via at least one of: a graphic display and a pictorial display;presenting emulation information to an operator of the live entity incompliance with the training scenario to enable the live entity torendezvous or to join with the virtual entity; correlating acharacteristic of the live entity with a characteristic of the virtualentity; blending, within the trainee presentation, the instance of thevirtual entity with the actual presentation of the live entity based onthe correlating; removing the virtual entity from the traineepresentation; and removing the occlusion of the actual presentation ofthe live entity from the trainee presentation, wherein the removing thevirtual entity and the removing the occlusion occur as a result of theblending, the virtual entity being within the defined range, and as aresult of the live entity being within a correlating tolerance.
 11. Thenon-transitory computer readable medium of claim 10, wherein the definedrange is a first defined range that limits an ability of a traineeaircraft or its instrumentation, and wherein receiving a trainingscenario having the defined range further includes receiving dataassociated with presentation of the virtual entity on a display thatpresents training data according to a second defined range, the seconddefined range being greater than the first defined range, and whereinthe first defined range is a charted geographical section of airspaceand the second defined range is at least one of: outside the chartedgeographical section of airspace, beyond visual range (BVR) of thetrainee aircraft, and beyond local sensor range of the trainee aircraft.12. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 10, whereingenerating the instance of the virtual entity further comprisesgenerating a plurality of virtual entities in compliance with thetraining scenario.
 13. The non-transitory computer readable medium ofclaim 10, wherein the trainee presentation is configured forpresentation on an avionics display onboard a trainee aircraft.
 14. Thenon-transitory computer readable medium of claim 10, wherein presentingemulation information to an operator of the live entity to enable thelive entity to rendezvous or to join with the virtual entity furthercomprises presenting information to the live entity to mimic a behaviorof the virtual entity.
 15. The non-transitory computer readable mediumof claim 10, wherein correlating a characteristic of the live entitywith a characteristic of the virtual entity further comprisescorrelating at least one of: a position, an altitude, an airspeed, and aheading of the virtual entity with the live entity.
 16. Thenon-transitory computer readable medium of claim 10, wherein correlatinga characteristic of the live entity with a characteristic of the virtualentity further comprises receiving at least two characteristicsassociated with the live entity, comparing the at least twocharacteristics to two similar characteristics of the virtual entity,and determining if the live entity is within the correlating tolerance,the correlating tolerance including a tolerance for each of the at leasttwo characteristics, and wherein the tolerance for one characteristic ofthe at least two characteristics is more flexible than the othertolerance.
 17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 10,wherein blending, within the trainee presentation, the instance of thevirtual entity with the actual presentation of the live entity furthercomprises removing the occlusion of the actual presentation of the liveentity and discontinuing a presentation of the instance of the virtualentity, thereby replacing the discontinued presentation of the instanceof the virtual entity with the actual presentation of the live entity.18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 10, whereinremoving the occlusion of the actual presentation of the live entityfrom the trainee presentation further comprises enabling an onboardsensor based display of information when the virtual entity is withinthe defined range and the live entity is within the correlatingtolerance.
 19. The method for blending an instance of a virtual entitywith an actual presentation of a live entity within a traineepresentation of claim 1, wherein presenting emulation information to anoperator of the live entity in compliance with the training scenariofurther comprises presenting flight plan, flight directive, or flightvector information to the operator to mimic a behavior of the virtualentity.
 20. The method for blending an instance of a virtual entity withan actual presentation of a live entity within a trainee presentation ofclaim 19, wherein blending, within the trainee presentation, theinstance of the virtual entity with the actual presentation of the liveentity based on the correlating further comprises blending based on adetermination of compliance with the flight plan, flight directive, orflight vector information.